/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48735535/usa-today-9068460.0.jpg)
With the NBA trade deadline rapidly approaching, more and more players names are being tossed around as possible trade candidates. One of those, according to Sporting News, is Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye.
Frye, in the second year of a four-year, $32 million dollar deal, has had a less-than-stellar tenure with the Magic thus far. From injuring his knee in training camp last year -- an injury that hampered the floor spacing big man all season -- to not fitting in with starting center Nikola Vucevic, Frye's time with the Magic is one he, and the team, would like to soon forget.
Now, with the NBA's trading deadline just under two weeks away, Frye's name is being tossed around by a lot of teams and executives, according to Sean Deveney.
"He’s one of the names I think you hear a lot and you will hear a lot more about before the deadline," one NBA executive told Sporting News. "His contract is not that bad and he could help a contender, and it looks like they’re moving on from him. There’s a lot of interest there."
Deveney also points out that the Magic have reportedly received "multiple inquiries" on the Magic's former starting power forward.
It should come as no surprise that there is potential league-wide interest in the 10th-year forward. Frye's ability to space the floor and knock down three-pointers is a hot commodity in today's NBA, and while he has shortcomings on the defensive end, those can be hidden with a solid defensive big man next to him. It would also make sense for a contending team to add a player like Frye on a very reasonable deal for the next couple of seasons, especially due to the fact he plays a style that translates well with age.
For the Magic, moving on from Fyre makes sense. Even though they're not in a bad place cap-wise -- according to Basketball Insiders' salary page the Magic only have just over $60.5 million in guaranteed contracts for next year -- trading Frye and, potentially, taking on an expiring deal would save the Magic over $7.8 million next season. Moreover, they've already appeared to move on from the Arizona product to Aaron Gordon, who took over the starting power forward spot from Frye in late January.
Add in the fact the Magic are in complete tailspin since the turn of the New Year, and making a deal, be it small or big, just seems to make sense at this point.
Making a move might be what the Magic need to get out of their recent struggles, and with interest in a player like Frye, who has little place in the teams long-term plans, moving him would be their best option.
There's still a lot of time before the deadline, but rumors are undoubtedly going to begin to heat up, with the Magic a team that could end up being busy.